Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rainforest Community

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a miniature rainforest ecosystem, a terrarium. Students then explain how the continuous flow of energy and food in the ecosystem allows it to sustain itself.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary: Kansas Prairies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the ecosystem by reviewing scientific vocabulary terms. In this environmental awareness lesson, students identify the differences between abiotic and biotic factors and their relationship to the Earth. Students define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rice Straw

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read about rice farmers and their left over straw and then draw pictures that show how they help migrating birds. In this rice straw lesson plan, 3rd graders read about how the rice farmers use their straw to help the birds...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rain Forest

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explain the basics of the tropical rain forest ecosystem. They list the four general layers of vegetation found in the tropical rain forest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rain Forest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students acquire knowledge about the basics of the tropical rain forest ecosystem. They analyze the cause/effect relationship between humans attitudes and behavior and the evnvironment. Students list the four general layers of vegetation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flipbook Succession

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students review succession charts for their native area before going to an outside site to view the changes. At the site, they follow the transect line and observe the changes in the plant life. They draw the changes on note cards that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Information Fluency Unit

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, after defining the task and searching for some creative strategies, role play being a Park Ranger who tries to save Big Bend from being removed from the National Park system in Texas. They support the keeping of Big Bend...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Parasite Survey

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students count nematodes, cestodes and crustaceans on approximately one-hundred and fifty fish. They fill out autopsy reports for external and internal parasites then complete and discuss guide questions to make inferences about parasite...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Parasite Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students survey and dissect as many fish as possible. They count nematodes, cestodes and crustaceans on the fish, fill out autopsy reports, and transfer data to a chalkboard data table. Students graph the results of the entire class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Structures and Behaviours Can Be Observed in Vinegar Eels?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students view vinegar eels under a microscope at different magnifications. They use a DigiScope with the camera attachment in place of the eyepiece. Students count the number of thrashing movements in 10 seconds. They repeat this three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in Our Woods?

For Teachers K - 12th
Learners observe their local forest and document the change that occurs over the school year.  For this forestry lesson, students utilize a GPS to mark a certain area of the woods as their study area for the remainder of the year....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Habitats

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the important habitats, flora, fauna, and physical factors of coastal habitats. They compare the aquatic habitats to terrestrial habitats by researching and completing tables with the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TIMELINE OF THE LAND

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students construct time lines using historical facts about the development of agriculture. Students research specific dates and events and report their findings to the class. Students tape or glue the sections together sequentially in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

the Wonder of Wetlands

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the importance of the wetland ecosystem, its properties and functions, as well as, the many birds, animals, and plant life found there.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Portable Niche

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders, in groups, research animals, plants, and conditions found in ecosystems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lotic Environment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assemble a classroom river model as an example of a lotic system. They control and measure biotic and abiotic information for the in-class system and compare data with a lotic system in a natural environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners examine ecosystems that covered Illinois 200 years ago, investigate some living and non-living components of ecosystems, identify components of prairie system, create food webs, and observe human effects on environment. Lessons...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lotic Environment Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Food Web and Learning About Ecosystems

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the difference between a food web and food chain. They also examine the importance of the sun in a food web and food chain. Students understand what happens when you remove parts of the chain.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating the Ecology of Goldenrod Galls Through Biological Sampling

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this biology field lab exercise, students conduct a stationary population study of goldenrod galls. They examine a host of factors including goldenrod plant density, goldenrod gall density, gall height, gall mass, larval exit hole...
Lesson Plan
Other

National Science Digital Library: Smile: Habitat Overcrowding

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Experiment with crowd control in a garden. Students will test what happens to radish plants observing who survives, who gets the most food, water and sunlight.